Torque rheometry, mechanical properties and morphology of compatibilized PA6/HDPE blends

In this paper, an investigation was made of the effect of different compatibilizers on the torque rheometry, mechanical properties, and morphology of Polyamide 6 (PA6)/High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) blends. The compatibilizers used were PEgAA, PEgMA, and EMA-GMA. The blends were prepared in a counter-rotating intermeshing twin screw extruder, at 240 degrees C in all zones, and screw speed of 50 rpm. The composition of the blends was 80/20 (wt%) for PA6/HDPE binary blend and 80/10/10 (wt%) for PA6/Compatibilizer/HDPE blends. The blends were characterized by torque rheometry, mechanical properties, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Torque rheometry analysis has shown that there was an increase in the torque of PA6/HDPE blend when the compatibilizers were added. PEgAA compatibilizer was more reactive with PA6 than the other compatibilizers. However, the torque decreased due to degradation. There was a substantial increase in impact strength of PA6/HDPE blend when the compatibilizers were added. These results were corroborated by the strain at break data. SEM results indicated that the addition of compatibilizers to PA6/PE blend has considerably decreased the HDPE average particles size and improved the adhesion between PA6 and HDPE phases, resulting in an increase in impact strength.